Recently, I read an article by Carolyn Dube in the March/April 2012 Somerset Studio about painting and stamping on artist tape. Artist tape is basically like low tack masking tape that is white. I happened to have some in my stash, so I decided to give her technique a try. I didn't have any acrylic inks, such as she used, so I decided to try my alcohol inks to see what would happen.

I declared my first attempt at this approach to DIY tape a "non-success":

The ink bubbled and the colors were kind of ugly.

Then I remembered reading somewhere (I don't remember where!) that First Aid tape used for holding gauze in place makes for great DIY tape. I had bought some a long time ago for that very purpose, but had not yet tried it. So to the linen closet I went:

This kind of tape took the alcohol inks much more successfully:

While I liked the solid color tapes quite well, I also enjoyed the effect of droplets of alcohol inks left to spread and blend on the tape on their own:

The "wow" factor for me came when I added rubber stamp images with black Staz On ink:

I continued to experiment by coloring the tapes with acrylic paint, but the alcohol inks came out best of all. The next time I hit JoAnn with a stack of coupons, I'll be purchasing some liquid acrylic inks to try out the method Dube shared in her Somerset Studio article.

12 comments:

I've tried that black Staz On ink and it dried up on me in a very short while dispite me wrapping it upside down and covering it with Saran Wrap. It also stinks to me! Trying to find a better black dye ink!

GAUZE! that's fantastic! i tried messing around on first aid paper tape, which is not the same thing -- it now has a shiny coating which repels color. hadn't thought about gauze. must try! thank you for sharing!

Andria, I just LOVE making my own decorative tape! I didn't know there was another kind of white tape to use other than bandaging tape. You mean there's artist tape that's white and low-tack? I have quite a few alcohol inks and I'm going to try them! I love using my own stamps to decorate them afterward. I think the thing I like most is using Sharpie paint pens to color and then stamp using Stazon. Just awesome!

Must get back to this. I'm catching up with your blog and it's reminded me I haven't made my own tape in a long time!

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As a writer and mixed-media artist, I love to explore creativity and make art in the broadest sense of the term. As a mother, I consider my two daughters my greatest creative act, but beyond that I write and dabble in collage, mixed-media and assemblage projects, art journaling, card making, and altered art. “Drawing Near” is the blog that chronicles my creative pursuits, while “Living Stones” is the blog that explores topics of faith, prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship and service. My day-to-day life as a stay-at-home mother continues to revolve around meals, laundry, crafts, trips to school, a living room full of toys, family phone calls, church activities, reading, journaling, and exploring my creative side. It is not hard to fill the days with two spirited daughters, a “perfect-for-me” husband, and a determination to keep life interesting!

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My other blog, Living Stones, will be updated two to three times a month with posts related to the Living Stones Women's Ministry, which began meeting in my home in February 2014. Blog entries will focus on Bible study, prayer, mission/service, fellowship, and ideas related to our discussions during our meetings. All are welcome to visit, read, and join the conversation!

Today's Thought

Are you doing what you love, or just what is expected of you? (Anthony Peters)